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Tom Watson commenting on new undertakings in proposed Fox-Sky merger

Tom Watson MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, commenting on 21st Century Fox’s new undertakings in the proposed merger with Sky, said:

“The Murdochs have made numerous guarantees of editorial and operational independence in previous media acquisitions and they have always proved meaningless and unenforceable. These new promises will be no different.

“The uncertainty caused by the potential Fox-Disney sale should be a serious concern for the CMA. The ‘sunset clause’ in Fox’s proposal means all these so called ‘firewall remedies’ could be meaningless if the Disney deal goes through. At the very least these undertakings should also include a commitment from Disney to fund Sky News for the next decade and beyond.

“The only way to guarantee media plurality – which it is the CMA’s job to defend – is to block this deal.”

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